L.A. City Councilman wants to ban sodas in park vending machines

While the mayor of New York City wants to ban Super Size servings of soda, one Los Angeles City Councilman wants to make it harder to buy a can of pop at a city park.

Councilman Mitch Englander said he wants to replace soft drinks and sugary drinks with water or fruit juices in vending machines at city parks and libraries to help combat juvenile obesity.

"Obesity is everyone's problem," Englander said. "For each additional sugary drink consumed, the risk of obesity increases by 60 percent. Children who are overweight are likely to be overweight as adults."

Englander, who serves as president of the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association, said the city could help parents in controlling what their children consume by banning the soft drinks.

The city's Chief Legislative Analyst will study the proposal and come back with a formal recommendation on 45 days.

Several public health officials spoke in support of the proposal. Dr. Paul Simon of the county Department of Public Health, said it will help significantly reduce access to sugar products.

"The reality is kids are drinking these every day and we are always looking for ways to limit access," Simon said.

Representatives of several vending machine companies said they would work with the city to enact the new guideline.